Fall colors of the roses

I had to repost this photo.
First many thanks to the friends who commented the previous image with very rewarding words and specially who wrote that like the image as is, i.e. also with some black spots on the petals that are a natural effect of the cold and rainy fall weather. But after I read a good suggestion about cloning the spots, anytime I look at the image my eyes hare wounded by those dots that stain the very delicate colors of the rose. Do I begin to have some manias? May be, but I can't help wishing to see neat colors so I decided to repost the same photo after a very quick cleaning. Is it right, is it wrong? What do you think about?
Thanks.

Gigi, philosophically I still like the first one best. I have to admit though, this is stellar, and a better image. Sadly, some of the story is lost.

Hi Gigi, I can understand why you reposted the image. I have to say that I would probably have removed the small spots as well  I think Phil has pretty much nailed the point though I would not rate one image as better than another - the are both wonderful.  I have done a bit with roses (one of my favourite cultivated flowers) on occassion and that has often been with roses which are (very deliberately) "well past there best" ... They have a different type of beauty to that of the young pristine flower, though for me they are no less beautiful. For me the decision to 'touch up' the image would revolve around whether the 'spot' adds or detracts from 'the story'. More important for me are the marks / 'damage' around the edges of the petals on both flowers which show that the flowers show their beauty despite the 'wears and tears' of real life ... and those for me really do add to the image.
Cheers, Mark 

I hadn't even noticed the spots, Gigi, but I don't see why you shouldn't remove them.  This isn't jpournalism, it's art.

Ordinarily I would go with cloning out the spots, Gigi, but in this instance, with the autumnal mood, I would have been happy to see them left in.  The image has a eautifully muted tonality, bringing out the textures of the petals to perfection.  The combination of flower and bud makes for an excellent composition.

Hi  Gigi  The  is  indeed a  splendid composition...          and with  the fall colors, and soft light.  this  is an  exceptionally  beautiful  presentation. 

Albert Darmo
Canada